For the first time in 15 years, the number of children in care in Manitoba has dropped.
Numbers from March 31, 2018, show that 10,328 were in care at that time which is a reduction of 386 from a year before.
“While these numbers capture a snapshot of one point in time, they provide us with encouraging sign that Manitoba is heading in the right direction,” Families Minister Heather Stefanson said.
According to the province of the children in care, 87% are Indigenous.
The province began the process of reforming the Child and Family Services system in October of 2017 to reduce the number of kids in care and provide better outcomes for children.
A report with suggested changes to the regulations covering Child and Family Services was released last week.
The “Opportunities to Improve Outcomes for Children and Youth” report highlights the need to strengthen connections to culture and community. It also suggests that the province stop seizing newborns from mothers who have been flagged and instead support girls and young women who are pregnant with community-based and culturally appropriate services to better support mothers and their babies.
The report also suggested that more proactive planning should be provided for those who leave the child welfare system in an effort to support their transition to independence.
“There’s a real opportunity for the law to actually work for families and work for children in care,” said Diane Redsky from Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre and a member of the committee who wrote the report for the government. “We all want children to be safe and secure and we all want families to be supported and have their voice in decision making. The real shift is to modernize our laws to reflect that.”
© 2018 News 4
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